Aria Vargyas '27 was only eight years old when an EF5 tornado ripped through her hometown of Moore, Oklahoma. Tragically, her two younger sisters, Karrina and Sydnee, perished. Now, Aria is pursuing a degree in meteorology at Texas A&M University in honor of her sisters, with the hopes of helping to improve storm reaction times to prevent future loss of lives. We found Aria's story as a submission to our "Tell Us Your ArtSci Aggie Story" contest, that kicked off our Be Here campaign-—a campaign that encourages all faculty, staff, and students, past and present, to tell us why they choose to be here or want to be here. Her compelling story won first prize and she was awarded at our Be Here launch event last fall. Our videographer, Chris Jarvis, then made this incredible video, and as a result, her inspiring story has been featured in media nationally. This was all part of our strategy of mining for content that allows us to showcase our outstanding arts and sciences community. As a young college, having been newly merged from three legacy colleges in 2021, we recognized the need to make people feel this is their home, and that we also want them to Be Here. Aria is one of our first successes in our strategy.
From the Judges
This entry stands out for its compelling story and heartfelt execution. Well-composed shots and crisp audio come together to spotlight a remarkable individual—and to move the viewer in the process.
